Millions of patients undergo chemotherapy as part of their cancer treatment. Though controversial, chemotherapy uses very powerful drugs in an attempt to kill cancer cells. Although this may control some types of cancers and possibly prolong the lives of some patients, chemotherapy has many negative side effects. Among these are nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue, anemia, body ache, headache, night sweats, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. This has caused many patients to refuse this marginally effective and life-debilitating treatment. For those who still believe chemotherapy is worth pursuing, acupuncture can provide some relief in controlling the many undesirable side effects of chemotherapy.
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EFFECTIVENESS OF ACUPUNCTURE IN MANAGING CHEMOTHERAPY SIDE EFFECTS
Women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, for example, have found that acupuncture can be effective in managing such common side effects as hot flashes, night sweats, and excessive sweating. Compared to conventional drug therapy, acupuncture produces no side effects, according to a study presented in 2008 at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology’s 50th Annual Meeting in Boston.
A majority of women suffer from hot flashes after being treated with chemotherapy and/or anti-estrogen hormones, such as Tamoxifen and Arimidex. Hormone replacement therapy is often used to relieve hot flashes, but breast cancer patients are advised not to use hormone replacement therapy. This leaves many women with the unpleasant alternative of being treated with steroids and/or antidepressant drugs. Unfortunately, these drugs have undesirable side effects, such as nausea, weight gain, constipation, and fatigue.
Acupuncture also offers a number of positive benefits, including an increased sense of well-being, more energy, and in some cases, a stronger sex drive. Breast cancer survivors enjoy these benefits with a drug-free therapy that has no side effects. What’s more, these benefits last longer than many drugs commonly used to treat night sweats. Acupuncture is also more cost-effective for patients than many Western medications.
For more information on acupuncture to reduces the side effects of cancer treatments, please contact Pacific College of Oriental Medicine at (800) 729-0941, or visit www.PacificCollege.edu
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